VOLUNTEERING

As well as their employed staff, CCD welcome volunteers from all over the world to serve and help the children. Over the last few years CCD have asked For Life to interview and train all new volunteers that come from the UK (any exceptions are at CCD's disgression).

We are always interested to hear from people who would like to volunteer with CCD in Thailand. If you are interested in volunteering then please do read this page for details and information about applications, and then contact us by email or post. 

General CCD Ethos with Volunteers

CCD love having volunteers!  In fact, CCD relies on volunteers to keep a high ratio of carers to children in their daycare centres. CCD also love fresh enthusiasm and ideas brought by volunteers from all over the world.  A good volunteer can be such an encouragement and blessing to CCD.  However, CCD ask that volunteers must cover the cost of their trip themselves.  This includes flights, food, visas and a contribution towards rent (£40 a month).  This is so that more CCD money can reach the children.  If you are not able to fund yourself, or cannot raise financial support , please do not apply.

Once at CCD, you will be working in one of the four daycare centres - Rainbow House daycare, Fuang Fah Daycare, Rachawadee Girls or Rachawadee Boys (for more details, see CCD page) - and possibly even in the wards themselves if you have physiotherapy or nursing skills.  CCD will allocate which daycare centre you will be working at before your arrival.  As a CCD worker, you are representing CCD and will be expected to follow their ethical code in your treatment towards the children, the Government staff, and in your conduct outside of working hours.  Working hours are Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 3.30pm. Volunteers are expected to participate and help in all areas of care in order to provide for the needs of children and young people.  You will also need to be respectful of Wasan and Chariya as the directors of CCD.. 

The Lonely Pakkred Guide

Written for the volunteers by the volunteers. The For Life team have put together this light-hearted guide to take you through the ups and downs of volunteering, and also help you to get ready before going out to Thailand.  If you would liketo have a copy of the guide, it costs £3.00 to cover our printing and postage.  Please send us an email to find out more, or write to us enclosing a cheque made out to 'For Life', and we can send you one!

Application Procedure

For many people, doing voluntary work abroad, especially somewhere as far away as Thailand is a big step, and something which should be carefully and seriously considered.  We are here to make sure that working with CCD is definately right for you, and to help you to be as effective as you can while you are out there.  We've designed this section to give you a breakdown of the process of applying to volunteer for CCD - how long it takes and the selection criteria for volunteers.  Please do leave adequate time for the application process, and obtaining you visa etc.  Last-minute applications may be refused. 

Selection Criteria

CCD do have a limit to the number of volunteers that they can accept for accomodation reasons, and because of the size of the daycare centres.  The maximum number at any one time is 20 volunteers.  This means that if CCD is oversubscribed, not every application can be successful.  Please do not book your flights until you have received official acceptance and approval of your dates.  When selecting volunteers, the following criteria will be applied:

• Longer term volunteers will be prioritised. It takes a few months to get used to the environment and get to grips with the language. therefore CCD have a standard minimum volunteering time of 3 months, but volunteers who are staying longer than this are preferred. 
• Professional skills are prioritised.  If you are a nurse, or a physiotherapist, tor have other professional skills to offer CCD, then you are more likely to be selected.
• Earlier Applications are also prioritised.  It takes some time to process your application, interview and train you in the UK.  Your forms also have to be sent to Thailand, where CCD will apply for your work permit.  You also have to apply for a Non-Immigrant Thai Visa before you leave the UK.  This, again, takes time, and so last-minute applications are less likely to be considered.  Similarly, changing your dates or details last minute may not be possible.
• Flexible Dates will be prioritised.  As CCD cannot have more than 20 volunteers at a time, you will be more successful in your application if you can be flexible with your dates.  Between March - July, CCD are usually at their maximum, so if you apply during this time you may be requested to change your dates. 

Frequently Asked Questions

I am interested in volunteering - what next?

1.  Read the information sheet and job description.  These provide you with a breakdown of the key responsibilites of a CCD volunteer and other general information such as costs. 

2.  If you still feel that you would like to apply after reading all the information, download, complete and send your application to us either by email or by post. You will need to include 4 passport-size photos with your application form and a photocopy of your passport.  We will not be able to process your form until we have received these. 

3.  We will respond to you within ten days, and then arrange an interview.  If you do not recieve a response from us wtihin this time, please contact us becuase there may have been a problem with the email, or the post!

4.  After the interview, we will contact you within a week to let you know the outcome.  If the For Life team feel it is right for you to go then we will arrange to meet and provide you with some basic training before you fly out to CCD. Please do not book your flights before you have heard the decision of the For Life team. 

Flights and Visas

You will need to obtain a visa from the Thai Embassy in order to volunteer for CCD.  Once you have been accepted we will send you a letter which you will need to take to the Embassy, along with your passport, two passport-sized photos, flight tickets and £45.  Requirements do vary between Embassies, and do sometimes change, so make sure you check with your local embassy before going!  There are more details in the Lonely Pakkred Guide.

You will also need to send us two passport-sized photos and a photocopy of your passport which we will post to CCD so they can apply for your work permit. 

Where will I stay?

CCD have a spacious house where all the volunteers live together.  The standard of accomodation is good, but you may have to share a room.  You will pay CCD rent of approximately £40 per month to help them cover costs.